Spring has sprung! Enjoy the warmer weather with the family, all without spending a time.
Find spring blooms. Spring has sprung! We round up the best places to spot newly sprouted blooms, including free spots like Tryon Creek, Tom McCall Waterfront Park, Happy Valley Library and Laurelhurst Park. Looking for cherry blossoms? We’ve got you!
Hop to it. Easter is this month and we’ve rounded up some eggcellent egg hunts, Easter Bunny photo ops and more. Even better, there’s a lot happening for free!
Listen to stories. If you have littles in the house, library storytimes are true gems and an easy way to get out of the house and meet other families. Find them here at Multnomah County locations and at Washington County ones.
Search party. Don’t miss the last days of Blooms & Buzz Springtime Scavenger Hunt at Bridgeport Village. Stroll through the shopping center to find all 12 hidden springtime flowers and bugs created by local artist Mike Bennett. Once you’ve found all 12 characters, return your completed checklist to the Security Office (located between Madewell and Barnes & Noble) to claim a prize!
Check out art. While kids ages 17 and under are always free at the Portland Art Museum, on the first Thursday of each month, everyone else can also check out the exhibits at no cost. This month, visit on April 2 for Free First Thursdays.
Visit a gallery. Formerly located at The Ellen Browning Building, The Lobby returns this spring with a three-month pop-up exhibition at The Writers’ Block Art Gallery. Titled Seeing the What, the exhibition takes inspiration from Henry David Thoreau’s observation: “The real question is not what you look at, but what you see.”
Clean up. Head to the Pearl district for a family-friendly volunteering opportunity: Polish the Pearl: Clean and Create on Thursday, April 2. Meet up with the SOLVE organization at Jamison Square for a neighborhood clean up, followed by an hour of creativity with a guided sustainable art activity. There’s also another SOLVE clean up at Director Park on Wednesday, April 8.
Build it. Visit your local Home Depot the first Saturday of the month (April 4 this month) for the Kids Workshops. Kids can fire up their STEAM skills with hands-on building and crafting projects that rotate monthly. They happen at Lowes, too!
Explore a new neighborhood. In our Neighborhood Guide, we highlight family-friendly spots to eat and play in neighborhoods across the quadrants.
Author storytime. Meet author Nora Ericson at Little Nestlings in West Linn for a reading of The Bunny Ballet, book signing, and bunny-themed activities for young children on Saturday, April 4.
Take flight. Aviation enthusiasts of all ages will love Open Saturday at Pearson Field Education Center in Vancouver. Each Saturday, from 10 am-3 pm, kids can enjoy STEAM education through hands-on activities. There’s also a flight simulator late, vertical wind table and historical airplanes and collections on display.
Roll out. Check out these kid-friendly bike paths. They’re also great for roller skates (and strollers!).
Tales from the Bard. Visit Wonderwood Springs in St. Johns every Saturday as Gerard “The Bard” Bardler (the bard of Wonderwood) reads stories and sings songs! Books are generously donated by our neighbors at Twin Rivers Books.
Celebrate Holi. Celebrate the Holi Festival of Colors at Pioneer Square during the two-day, all-ages festival celebrating friendship and equality from April 4-5.
Bunny bike ride. Join Kidical Mass on Sunday, April 5 for its Easter Bunny Bike Ride. Families will ride from the Irving Park playground to Grant Park on neighborhood greenways and quiet streets, and then have an Easter egg hunt for the little kids — bring baskets and decorate your bikes and helmets!
Dance, baby. Get the wiggles out before naptime with stories, songs, and lots of dancing at the Oregon City Public Library on Monday, April 6 at 10:15 am. Limited capacity, pre-registration is encouraged.
Bingo! Get in your Bingo fix at Hillsboro Downtown Food Station during its biweekly Wednesday night Bingo Night. It’s all ages and free to play!
Rock on. Take your little rockhound to the Mt. Hood Rock Club 2026 Rock & Gem Show. Held at Jackson Armory in Northeast Portland, the three-day event (April 10-12) features more than 30 vendors, demonstrations, raffles and more.
Go in circles. In Ladd’s Addition, spring means it’s time to bike more! Get some mileage in during the Ladds 500 on April 11. Teams, families and individuals will bike around Ladd Circle Park again and again. And again!
Hear the beat. Put on your dancing shoes and enjoy six marimba bands playing high-energy music from Africa and beyond on Saturday, April 11 for Mallets of Mass Percussion: Marimba Music of Zimbabwe. All performers are students of MyLinda King of Boka Marimba and concert is held at the Alongsiders in Northeast.
Park for free. Metro Free Parking Day is April 16! Enjoy free parking at Oxbow and Blue Lake regional parks, Broughton Beach, Chinook Landing Marine Park, and M. James Gleason Memorial Boat Ramp. Plus, on April 19, get free entrance to national parks, including including Mount Rainier National Park, Olympic National Park, North Cascades National Park, and Crater Lake.
Celebrate Earth. Head to Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve on Saturday, April 18 for Free Earth Day Crafts, all using recyclable materials. No registration required! And don’t miss the Tom McCall Waterfront Park clean up with SOLVE on April 22 for Earth Day.
Dog days. Calling all dog lovers: Don’t miss WonderWOOF Market at Wonderlove food cart pods April 18-19. There will be over 15 incredible local vendors offering a range of goods and services such as pet supplies, pet fashion, toys, resources, treats and more.
Tree time. Don’t miss the free admission at the World Forestry Center Discovery Museum on Saturday, April 19. Explore interactive exhibits, take part in family-friendly activities that highlight forests, wildfire preparedness and sustainability.
Terrific ceramics. Featuring over 200 Oregon Potters Association (OPA) members, the Ceramic Showcase, held April 24-26 offers visitors the opportunity to meet exceptional ceramic artists who are exhibiting and selling their latest work. Adults and children can both learn a variety of clay-making techniques from professional potters on the Demo Stage and in the Clay Exploration Area.
Faire thee well. Enjoy a free, all ages outdoor market celebrating local artists, makers, mystics, and small businesses from the Portland community on Saturday, April 25 during the Faerie Faire in the Sock Dreams parking lot in Southeast.
Bake for kids in foster care. Check out this kid-friendly volunteer opportunity you can do from the comfort of your own kitchen.
Keep teens busy. TeenForce is a free, after school program at five community centers around the city and is available for youth ages 10 to 20. The pass includes access to designated open swims, gyms and more.
Looking for more kid-approved fun? Be sure to bookmark our frequently updated Kids Calendar!